Dirty Linen: A game-changing teleserye that draws billions of views

For seven months, many Filipino viewers fervently followed and talked about ABS-CBN’s captivating tale of revenge in Dirty Linen, which has raked in over 2.5 billion views since its launch early this year.

The game-changing teleserye is described as “a class of its own” by its head writer Kay Brondial. “Dirty Linen offers something unique to the market. The suspense and the thrill provide a refreshing kind of programming, leaving audiences hooked for the next episode,” she said.

The series has garnered acclaim for its gripping storytelling, which is a stark departure from the conventional teleseryes. The exceptional cast of actors breathed life into the interesting characters, while the grandeur of the Fiero mansion and meticulous production design created an immersive world. Furthermore, the riveting musical score infused suspense, tension, and intensity to each scene.

At the ABS-CBN Pinoy Media Congress, Kay shared the creative team’s conscious effort to employ a non-linear approach in telling the story.

“We twisted it. We were clever with the liberal use of flashback and non-linear techniques, and yet, the story can still be easily followed,” she shared. “We started the pilot strong with a glimpse of the past and interspersed it with the present events.”

Lead stars Janine Gutierrez and Zanjoe Marudo.

Dirty Linen tells the story of Alexa Salvacion, alias Mila dela Cruz, played by Janine Gutierrez. Alexa infiltrates the influential Fiero family’s El Hambra household as a maid driven by the desire to expose the family’s dirty secrets and find out what happened to their loved ones, who died while working for the Fieros. She seeks revenge. However, love gets in the way as she falls for the Fiero’s beloved son Aidan, played by Zanjoe Marudo.

“When the law can’t seem to bring justice, men will take matters into their own hands. In Dirty Linen, it is in her hands. Sa kamay ni Mila Salvacion,” she said.

According to Kay, the series was conceptualized to cater to ABS-CBN’s core viewers and the socially-conscious Gen Z market.

“Dirty Linen is a revenge drama that is a reflection of our present social climate. It aims not only to entertain, but to rouse and inspire the audiences to stand against all injustice and to fight for what is right — a value that is prevalent among the Gen Zs,” she said.

She said the show’s social relevance not only aims to poke fun but also educate audiences about the worlds of the poor and the rich, the victims and the criminals, the just and the unjust, the liars and the truth-seekers.

She went on to say that that the show was created to provide an engrossing genre narrative that is high concept, filmic, and fast-paced, catering to the ever-changing tastes of modern audiences and positioning it as a strong contender in the evolving world of TV and streaming services.

Head writer Kay Brondial describes Dirty Linen as ‘a class of its own,’ which offers something unique to audiences.

Kay recalled that the pandemic lockdown and the ABS-CBN broadcast shutdown provided an opportunity for the creative talents to be exposed to the different global streaming offerings. That period, while full of uncertainties, paved the way for more innovation.

“We were not sure if makakabalik pa kami, but I believe na dahil doon, nagkaroon ng opening para sa amin to break new ground,” she said.

In its first two weeks, Dirty Linen amassed an amazing 500 million combined views across social media platforms and consistently ranked among the top trending topics on Twitter.

As the story nears its conclusion, the dirty secrets of the Fieros are being exposed one by one. Audiences find themselves piecing together the puzzle pieces, either confirming their long-held suspicions or succumbing to the shocks of plot twists.

It’s the final showdown between the two families, whose actions and motivations are driven by their unwavering love for their families. As Aidan and Alexa vowed in their tension-filled confrontation, they would go to any length to protect their families.

Will familial love drive people to do the right thing or will the desire for revenge offer the much-needed closure for healing? Will Alexa finally get the justice she so relentlessly seeks? Who among them will survive?

The anticipation is palpable. Bring out the popcorns for the gripping finale week of Dirty Linen, weeknights at 9:30 on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page.